Commission Proceedings 



Discharges of untreated and partially treated municipal and domestic wastewater 



William J. Reid, Assistant Chief of the Water Quality Section of the Division of Water 

 Quality in DENR, reported on discharges of untreated and partially treated municipal and 

 domestic wastewater and recommendations to reduce these discharges. Mr. Reid noted 

 that collection system inflow and infiltration was the biggest contributor to spills, and that 

 grease and oil in the collection systems was also a major problem. He said that ongoing 

 efforts in establishing collection system permits, tougher enforcement, and educational 

 efforts seek to reduce these problems. He added that grants and loans provided by the 

 Clean Water Bonds issued in 1998 have also been important in helping upgrade 

 wastewater facilities. Mr. Reid noted that the Division had seen a 5% increase in 

 compliance by municipal and domestic wastewater treatment works from 1997 to 1999. 

 His recommendations included providing a regular funding source for grants to 

 mimicipalities to upgrade their treatment plants. ERC members then debated why people 

 across the state should subsidize the repair of treatment works that have not been properly 

 maintained. 



Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Program 



Burrie V. Boshoff, Section Chief of the Underground Storage Tank Section of the 

 Division of Waste Management in DENR, presented a report on the fiscal condition and 

 cleanup record of the Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Program. The 

 funds for the cleanup of both commercial and noncommercial sites with leaks have 

 positive balances, and there has been a major increase in the number of sites closed 

 relative to the number of new sites discovered. Mr. Boshoff recommended legislative 

 action to authorize the program to pay consultants for cleanup results rather than cleanup 

 systems. ERC members raised questions about the need for assessment at low-risk sites 

 and expressed concern about leaks from new and upgraded tanks. 



Dry-cleaning operations 



Rick A. Zechini, Assistant Commission Counsel, presented proposed amendments to 

 previously introduced dry-cleaning solvent cleanup legislation. Mr. Zechini explained 

 that the proposed amendments would earmark additional sales tax revenue from dry- 

 cleaning services to the Dry-Cleaning Solvent Cleanup Fund and would repeal an 

 insurance requirement for accessing the fund. Denny Shaffer, Representative of the 

 North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners, supported the proposed 

 amendments. Despite concerns that the earmarked tax would apply even to cleaners 

 using solvents that do not contain hazardous substances, the ERC voted to recommend 

 the amendments to the General Assembly. 



Mr. Zechini also explained proposed legislation to establish a tax credit of up to 35% 

 for investment in dry-cleaning and wet-cleaning equipment that does not use a hazardous 

 substance as a solvent. Despite some concern that the credit may be too large, the ERC 

 voted to recommend the legislation to the General Assembly. 



Floodplain management 



Robin W. Smith, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Protection in DENR, 

 presented a proposal to expand the scope of the State's floodway statute to include the 



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